A week away, anticipation and excitement building? And an update

Hmm.

Guy shuts it down for a night to fall asleep on the couch and wakes to find there’s a report out there about Jonas Valanciunas being in a walking boot or somesuch.

Glad we’ve been invited over to the arena this morning to catch up with some of the guys working out so we can, you know, find out what’s real.

And here's what's real: It's a left calf strain, "not thought to be serious" according to team officials but there is no timeline for when he'll be able to resume full basketball work.

I will say this though: If the kid misses some time at camp – and I repeat NO ONE KNOWS NOW WHETHER THAT IS OR ISN’T THE CASE – it’d be too bad.

I fully suspect Dwane has all kinds of work to get done with a group that’s going to include probably four and maybe five guys in his top nine.

This, as we’ve said, is shaping up to be one of the more intriguing camps and pre-seasons in the last few years with genuine competition for jobs and a handful of promising players to integrate into a system that made major strides in an abbreviated 2012 season.

If I know Dwane, and I do pretty well, he’ll want to hit the ground running with some long, teaching-filled practices in Halifax next week (and thanks to all for the recommendations, we’ll be asking more later on this week) and that’s when most of the work is going to be done.

The CBA limits the number of two-a-day practices a team can have (if memory serves it’s three) and there can only be one “contact” practice on those two-a-day days.

That means the other workout those days will comprise drills and teaching and implementing defensive principles that they hope continues the improvement we saw a season ago. It’s where Dwane and his staff will be doing their most important work.

Having everyone ready to hit the ground running is significant – it’s not a death knell if they’re not but it’s big – because guys like Valanciunas, Kyle Lowry, Landry Fields, Terrence Ross and perhaps a couple of others need to mesh fast.

Because once the pre-season starts, and especially when the regular season starts, they’ll lose some of those valuable practice days, the days when the staff really gets down to working.

I actually find myself getting kind of excited with media day and camp only a week away. It’ll be nice to get back to the regular rhythm of a regular season (I’ve banished almost all thought of last year from my mind) and even a wee bit of news to find out heightens that anticipation.

It’ll be good to be back around the gym this morning; it’ll be really good to be back there full time a week from now.

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Who among us – at least those of us in this part of the world – didn’t spend at least a few minutes of our misspent youth wandering around a Sam The Record Man record store?

The iconic one in Toronto was a downtown landmark and even the satellite stores were, I’m sure, must-visit locatlons in whatever cities they were in.

No, they don’t make ‘em like that any more; sure, there is more variety and choice and all kinds of music-shopping options but there’ll never be another Sam The Record Man.

The man or the store.

-

The Argos lose their quarterback and the Bills lose their running back and if there was a worse Sunday for football in this area, not sure I remember when it was.

Tough for the Bills, I was starting to get kind of jazzed about them and CJ Spiller; tougher for the Argos, though, because they were becoming quite a likeable team and seemed destined to host at least a playoff game in advance of the Grey Cup.

Now, it’s not like Hamilton or Winnipeg are looking like any kind of legitimate challengers to second in the East but the rest of the regular season is going to exponentially more difficult for Toronto if Ray’s out of any length of time.

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No, I didn’t see a second of the Emmys and not a minute of Treme (the nap was that good) but now I know I have to put Homeland on the must-find On Demand list and they absolutely got it right with Modern Family.

Now, I need to see what’s up in New Orleans in Treme. No spoilers, please, not sure when I’ll get to it.

-

Kind of missed the release of the Raptors broadcast schedule at the end of last week; was off doing other stuff when it was put out.

Nothing’s changed, really. TSN and TSN2 have 47 games, Sportsnet and Sportsnet One have the other 35 and it’s Matt and Jack on the TSNs and Matt and Leo on the Sportsnets.

But here’s the one thing that hasn’t changed that’s perhaps most important.

All 82 games will once again be produced by NBA TV Canada so the look could mirror last year’s and won’t vary much game-to-game. You regular viewers (I’m not likely to see 10 games on TV this year) might want to weigh in on that.

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I will fully admit I didn’t watch a lot of W5 or much other Canadian news consistently growing up – the Falls, sadly, was more Buffalo than Toronto – but I did know enough about Henry Champ to know broadcast journalism lost a giant when he passed away this weekend.

RIP.

It’s funny, isn’t it? Even back in the day when reporters were simply reporters and delivered the news straight without a hint of personality coming through, greats emerged by the strength of their personalities and their skills.

Champ was one of them, unquestionably, but the manner in which he emerged as someone we knew and could trust was much different than it is today. He and others rose above by dint of their work ethic and stories they told not by screaming or over-emphasizing themselves above the story.

Like Sam Sniderman, they don’t make ‘em like that often enough any more.

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One late Emmy note.

I heard or read or was told that the show with the most Emmys ever is Frasier and I find that hard to believe.

It was pretty good but I can’t imagine it being on anyone’s list of Top 20 sitcoms all the time. Must have been a dark, down period in sitcom history when it was on.

-

 

 

Comments

[Sam]

Hi Doug: where can I find pre-season TV schedule? Montreal game, Detroit games, Wiz, Real Madrid........

Blogger's note: As of now, no TV planned for pre-season

[sam]

It's almost like the week leading up to Christmas. I'm happy the NBA Season is almost here and training camp is a week away - It's going to be interesting to see how all the new pieces fit together and if the HOTH can gel into something that is more than a sum of thier parts.

[Ed]

Hi Doug,

I know they haven't played a single game together, but looking at the East, do you think this team can make the playoffs? The usual suspects (Heat, Nets, NY, Atlanta, Chicago, Boston) should be locks, but the bottom two spots are ripe for the taking.

Any thoughts?
Ed

Blogger's note: Probably right, not sold on Atlanta but we'll see

[Bill]

Is a "left calf strain" what dogged AB last season? Sounds like one of those issues that tend to linger and it feels like 2011-2012 all over again.

[Wilber]

Note to NBA TV Canada Director(s): That low, end of the arena shot you guys seem to like so much? We don't like it as much as you do.

Can't wait.

[doug]

I remember the Sam's in London,Ontario clearly, spent many a time there rummaging thru records, grabbing the top 40 list of the week from the counter..Clarence and Dundas good old store...record stores just had their own feel back then a eclectic mix of people all music lovers in all genres just browsing..glad i experienced them they were just like the old hardware stores....hope JV heals fast as we've gone thru this "calf strain"saga before...what's the over/under on Jays win for rest of season, my take 2.5...ok cheers..

[Tim H.]

Hey Doug:
"Guy shuts it down for a night to fall asleep on the couch and wakes to find there’s a report out there about Jonas Valanciunas being in a walking boot or somesuch."
There you go - from now on, you can't fall asleep ;>)

[LeeZ]

Re: Fraser. This is just off the top of my head, without really compiling a top 20 list of the all-time great sitcoms, but something tells me I'd include Fraser on that list. It was pure farce at times, and I mean that as a compliment (truly great farce being a lost art these days); the writing was insanely good; the chemistry and casting sublime; and the interplay between Niles and Fraser: I mean, have there ever been two characters so deliciously well matched against one another? Plus, the show had no noticeable decline in quality throughout its run, which is exceedingly rare, me thinks.
Memo to NBA Canada: less low angle shots, more cowbell. Please and thank you.

[james]

As long as Matt and Jack pay more attention to the game they're calling and less to the comedy club act they're working on, the coverage should be just fine.

[ptboscott]

yikes! not to feel all superstitious or anything but "left calf strain" gives me a funny feeling! that just means the season is getting close though and that gives me a good feeling. note to tv producers: please please please show the play on the court and not a close up of the bench, the coach, the trainer, the....etc at the expense of a turnover on an inbounds play or a foul or really anything game related at all. thanks. (not sure why i rant that here doug but it feels good anyway!)

[LeeZ]

Since we're ranting here about tv sports producers, how about one for tennis? You watch a thrilling match between two titans of the sport, they leave it all on the court, and then the final point is played. I cannot begin to tell you how many times they START to show the players heading to the net to shake hands, but then instead of showing them embrace and or shake hands, giving the viewer the emotional satisfaction and closure of seeing their reaction and interplay after such a thrilling match, we get treated to...a nondescript bunch of fans on their feet clapping. Um...do you REALLY think that somehow adds to our appreciation of what's going on? Do you REALLY think that we're unaware that the fans are clapping (that noise from all those clapping hands is kind of a giveaway, don't you think?) Doug, please pass that along to the hundreds of tennis tv producers you hobnob with regularly.

Blogger's note: Passed on

[doug]

@james I personally like Matt and Jack as it's just a game and I am more then capable of following along with the action without needing a paint by numbers announcer to guide me through every bit of the action...plus from Matt and Jack's point of view it wasn't the best b-ball we were watching last year for long stretches so for gawd's sake it's alright to laugh and tell a story if only to hang on to some sanity and keep it all in it's perspective..there's a football announcer that drives me crazy he analyzes every play, critiques ad nauseam and that is Mike Mayock also Leo tends to do the same the same with the Raps so to me just give me a laugh and good storytelling anyday as I am watching the game...cheers..

[larry lukeeborg]

nice article re jose. unlike several posters, the guy is truly professional.

[LorenintheWoods]

Hey Doug, any insights into this?

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/37817/story-time-with-jalen-rose-the-vince-carter-body-slam

Jalen tells a good story..

Blogger's note: Always has, always will

[Dave B]

I agree that Jonas needs the full training camp to get some semblance of NBA Games under his belt. There was also a report that he may have hurt his ankle in the Olympic game against Russia. Have you heard this?

I disagree with you on modern family. I have watched episodes of several different "comedy" shows over the pass couple of years. There definitely is a dearth of good comedy on TV right now. I think Big Bang Theory is better although it is definitely for a niche audience. I have tried to watch Modern Family because I know many people like it. I just don't enjoy it.

As for the broadcast, I join the chorus who asks Matt and his partners to comment on the game. When there is a foul, I like to know who it is on and what number of fouls are on that player.. Many times Matt and Jack or Leo are telling a story or teasing each other and unless you can hear the arena announcer over them, you sometimes don't know what happened. As for the regular play by play, I don't mind if they miss some of that.

I too am starting to get excited about the start of the preseason and season. The first episode of "Raptors today" airs on NBA TV Canada tonight. I have it set to record.

Keep up the great work Doug. I appreciate all you do. A searchable list of cities and places (pubs and restaurants in those cities) would still be good.

Blogger's note: He tweaked an ankle early in that game but played later on and it has nothing to do with this

[Dave B]

I read your article in The Star: "With arrival of a younger point guard in new teammate Kyle Lowry, and the chance Calderon will be asked to come off the bench in his eighth season in the NBA, there is sure to be some segments of the fan base who’ll look for contretemps were none exist."

I think much of the point guard contretemps in the past was stirred up by some segments of the media. I watch many of the post-practice and post-game interviews and there always seems to some reporters looking to create controversy. If Jose comes off the bench, how long will it be before FZ or SB asks Jose if he thinks he should be starting?

[D-Mac Ottawa]

O lordie, Doug, you need to go head to head, toe to toe with Grantland and set up your Gruntland site today, featuring your Grunt and Center slot with you and Kevin Willis, and you can get every former Rap yapping just like Jalen, and then you can call in an Irregular or two and turn them loose on some music and TV subject, or great sports bars with a look at this season's hottest shoes (Hi, Lorie!) and I think you could start with Sportchick and J, then maybe LeeZ and Doug B... bring back the Swirsk for a cameo encore... o man, you're on a roll... and you'll need some theme music, and hey, how about a live band so you could shoot the breeze with Paul Shaffer, or better yet, Wynton Marsalis... dude, you're killing me with this good stuff... and then you could... okay, hey go Raps! Cheers.
Oh, and hey, how about like a theme from The Blogfather... yeah, and Smokin' Joe Robinson could play it, backed up by Boz Scaggs of course... Doug, Doug, settle down, you're a tad amped here... but just do it! And don't forget Paolo as your satellite correspondent....

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Oh Oh Oh, and your annual Gruntland Fantasy Camp could have this humongous H-O-R-S-E tournament for charity and you could call it "They Shoot H-O-R-S-E, Don't They"... and forget about plastics, Doug – it's merchandise. Your future is all about the Gruntland merchandise... okay, I'm out. Cheers.

[Lorie]

Whoa, D-Mac! (Ha! See what I did there....H-O-R-S-E...Whoa?!)
I think someone's on a sugar high and really feeling his oats. (Ha! Again with the equine references!) But it sure is an exciting time with Media Day (cue the WalMart singers: "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year") just around the corner and everything seems new and shiny and full of opportunity and everyone's teams are all wins and no losses and Jose's answers to questions are surprising and fresh. (And you know I love Jose!!!) But, seriously, the Gruntland idea's a good one - hey (get it...hay!?) some might even call it great. And I can do more than shoes, you know (and while we're talking about 'em, I sure didn't think much of that non-matching footwear look Valanciunas was sporting...is that a new Euro thing?)....just read that little Grantland piece on Rob Gronkowski and I think I'd like to try my hand at doing something more suiting our little place and call it "The Tao Of Grunt". You have a tao, don't you, Doug? Cheers!

[D-Mac Ottawa]

@Lorie, far be it from me to attempt to pigeon-hole the un-pigeon-hole-able. Shoes would serve no more than the hors d'ouevres (whoa! more horse doovers!) to your sumptuous 15-course offering. Tao we're talkin' turkey! Cheers.
Go Raps! Get your calves in order.

[Sherry]

Definitely check Homeland out, it's very good.
I'm rewatching Scandal at the moment. It's great and Kerry Washington is awesome!